Blueberry plant named &#39;CLOCKWORK&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Clockwork’ is provided. ‘Clockwork’ is a commercial variety with excellent machine harvest characteristics, and is intended for the processed foods market. The variety has a concentrated mid-season ripening schedule, with the potential to be harvested only once per season. ‘Clockwork’ holds up well in freezer trials, with excellent flavor and texture. The plant is vigorous, with an upright growth habit, and has an estimated chilling requirement of 800 to 1,000 hours.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

LATIN NAME OF THE FAMILY, GENUS, AND SPECIES

Family—Ericaceae.

Genus—Vaccinium.

Species—corymbosum

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Clockwork.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of northern highbush blueberry known as a Vaccinium corymbosum referred to as ‘Clockwork,’ as herein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Clockwork’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2005. ‘Clockwork’ is a commercial variety with excellent machine harvest characteristics, and is intended for the processed foods market. The variety has a concentrated mid-season ripening schedule, with the potential to be harvested only once per season. ‘Clockwork’ holds up well in freezer trials, with excellent flavor and texture. The plant is vigorous, with an upright growth habit, and has an estimated chilling requirement of 800 to 1,000 hours.

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘Reka’ (female parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,700, expired) by ‘US645’ (pollen parent, unpatented). The new blueberry plant variety ‘Clockwork’ has been planted in replicated trials since 2007.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Duke’ in that ‘Clockwork’ ripens about 2 weeks later, has a smaller berry with a shallow calyx and has more concentrated ripening.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Draper’ in that ‘Clockwork’ has more concentrated ripening, a smaller berry with a shallow calyx, and a higher yield.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Clockwork’ has maintained its distinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexual propagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones are phenotypically identical to the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Clockwork’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘Clockwork’:

-   -   1. Concentrated ripening schedule, with the potential to be         harvested in one pick.     -   2. Excellent machine harvest characteristics, with a very         upright growth habit and narrow crown     -   3. Medium sized berry with a very shallow calyx and excellent         size and color uniformity

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘Clockwork.’ The colors are a nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘Clockwork,’ highlighting the plant's upright growth habit and vigorous nature.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘Clockwork.’

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘Clockwork.’

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Clockwork.’ The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately three years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Classification: a. Family — Ericaceae. b. Genus — Vaccinium. c.     Species — corymbosum. d. Common Name — Highbush Blueberry. -   Parentage: Female Parent — Reka (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,700,     expired). Male Parent — US645 (unpatented). -   Market class: ‘Clockwork’ is a commercial blueberry variety intended     to be machine harvested for the processed foods market. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant size.—a. Height of Plant: Average of 35 inches on 4             year old plants. b. Canopy Diameter: Average of 35 inches on             4 year old plants.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Twigginess.—Moderately twiggy.         -   Suckering.—Low.         -   Evergreenness.—Deciduous.         -   Chilling requirement.—Approximately 800-1000 hours.         -   Cold hardiness.—Approximately USDA zones 4-7.         -   Productivity in Lowell, Oreg.—a. On 2 year old plants:             Approximately 2.17 lbs per plant, compared to 1.55 lbs per             plant on Draper plants of the same age. b. On 3 year old             plants: Approximately 5.26 lbs per plant, compared to 3.96             lbs per plant on Draper plants of the same age. c. On 4 year             old plants: Approximately 9 lbs per plant, compared to 7.77             lbs per plant on Draper plants of the same age.         -   Propagation.—Easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.         -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—a. Root rot (Phytophthora             cinnamomi): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. b.             Stem Blight (Botryosphaeria spp): Undetermined. c.             Botryosphaeria Stem canker (Botryosphaeria corticis):             Undetermined. d. Phomopsis Twig Blight (Phomopsis vaccinii):             Does not appear to be overly susceptible. e. Bacterial Cane             Canker (Pseudomonas syringae): Does not appear to be overly             susceptible. f. Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea): Does not             appear to be overly susceptible. g. Leaf Spot (Septoria             spp.): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. h. Leaf             rust (Naohidemyces vaccinii): Does not appear to be overly             susceptible. i. Bud Mites (Acalatus vaccinii): Undetermined.         -   Survival.—Good. -   Trunk and branches:     -   -   Texture.—a. Surface Texture New Wood: Smooth. b. Surface             Texture 1 yr Wood: Smooth. c. Surface Texture 3 yr Wood:             Rough.         -   Color.—a. Color of New Wood: Pantone color Green Olive             17-0535. b. Color of Rough Bark at 1 year: Pantone colors             Green Oasis 15-0538 and Red Barn 18-1531. c. Color of Rough             Bark at 3 years: Pantone colors Ecru Drab 14-1212, Brown             Sugar 17-1134, and Red Barn 18-1531. -   Foliage:     -   -   Internode length.—Average of 13.85 mm.         -   Leaf dimensions.—a. Leaf Length: Average of 69.6 mm. b. Leaf             Width: Average of 33.4 mm.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptical with acute apex and rounded base.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf color.—a. Upper Leaf Surface: Pantone color Black             Forest 19-0315. b. Lower Leaf Surface: Pantone color Water             Cress 17-0220.         -   Pubescence.—a. Upper Leaf Surface: Absent. b. Lower Leaf             Surface: Absent. c. Leaf Margins: Absent.         -   Petiole.—a. Petiole length: Average of 2.3 mm. b. Petiole             color: Pantone color Celery Green 13-0532. c. Petiole             surface texture: Smooth.         -   Leafing vs flowering.—In Lowell, Oreg. flower bud break             occurs prior to vegetative bud break. Flowers persist during             initial vegetative growth period. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged alternately on terminal             end of branches.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet, faint.         -   Immature flower color.—Pantone colors Claret Red 17-1740 and             Snow White 11-0602.         -   Flower buds.—Loose cluster, moderate density.         -   Flower shape.—Urceolate to cylindrical.         -   Flowering cluster.—Loose.         -   Flowering period.—50% bloom occurs in the first week of May             in Lowell, Oreg. and flowering continues through the end of             May, compared to ‘Duke’ which blooms about one week earlier.         -   Number flowers.—Average 7-8 flowers per cluster.         -   Pollen.—a. Pollen Staining: Approximately 90% viable,             staining with 2% acetocarmine dye. b. Pollen Abundance:             Medium. c. Pollen Color: Pantone color Corn Silk 13-0932.         -   Flower length.—Average of 9.85 mm.         -   Corolla.—a. Corolla Length: Average of 8.07 mm. b. Corolla             Diameter: Average of 7.63 mm. c. Corolla Aperture: Wide,             average of 4.60 mm. d. Corolla Color: Pantone color Snow             White 11-0602. e. Corolla Texture: Smooth.         -   Style length.—Average of 6.91 mm.         -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Diameter: Average of 7.40 mm. b. Calyx             Surface: Smooth. c. Calyx Color: Pantone color Water Cress             17-0220, lobes Herbal Garden 15-0336 and Holly Berry             17-1633.         -   Pistil color.—Pantone color Green Oasis 15-0538.         -   Pedicel.—a. Pedicel Length Flower: Average of 6.24 mm. b.             Pedicel Color: Pantone color Spinach Green 16-0439.         -   Peduncle.—a. Peduncle Length Flower: Average of 14.98 mm. b.             Peduncle Color: Pantone color Mellow Green 12-0426 and Red             Earth 18-1444.         -   Anther.—a. Anther length: Average of 3.91 mm. b. Anther             color: Pantone color Gold Earth 15-1234.         -   Stigma location.—Stigma is even with lip of corolla and up             to 0.17 mm above lip of corolla, on average.         -   Self-compatibility.—Moderate — average of 56% of             self-pollinated flowers reached maturity             (cross-compatibility trials were completed on field plants,             and may not represent accurate self-compatibility. Trials to             be carried out again in 2012). -   Fruit:     -   -   Mean harvest date.—July 23.         -   Mean date last pick.—July 30.         -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Aperture: Average 9.7 mm. b. Calyx Lobes: 5             lobes, not well defined. c. Calyx Depth: Average of 0.29 mm,             noticeably shallow.         -   Berry cluster.—Loose.         -   Berries per cluster.—Average of 7-8.         -   Berry pedicel.—a. Length: Average of 9.6 mm. b. Surface             Texture: Smooth.         -   Berry peduncle.—a. Length: Average 24.2 mm. b. Surface             Texture: Smooth.         -   Berry detachment.—Easy.         -   Berry weight.—Average berry weight of 1.6 g, compared to             Draper plants of the same age, which have an average berry             weight of 2.0 g.         -   Berry height.—Average of 12.1 mm.         -   Berry width.—Average of 15.1 mm.         -   Berry shape.—Oblate.         -   Berry color.—a. Immature berry color: Pantone color Oasis             16-0540. b. Berry Skin Color on Plant: Pantone color Blue             Ice 17-3922. c. Berry Skin Color after Harvest: Pantone             color Velvet Morning 18-3927. d. Berry Skin Color after             Polishing: Pantone color Dark Navy 19-4013.         -   Berry wax.—Medium wax, moderately persistent.         -   Berry flesh color.—Pantone color Willow Green 15-0525.         -   Pedicel scar.—Average 2.6 mm in diameter, small and dry.         -   Berry firmness.—Firm. Average berry firmness of 208.75 g/mm             of deflection, compared with Draper plants harvested on the             same day, which had an average berry firmness of 223.29 g/mm             of deflection, as measured with a Firmtech fruit firmness             tester.         -   Berry flavor.—Complex, fruity flavor.         -   Berry texture.—Firm. -   Seeds:     -   -   Seed color.—Pantone color Rawhide 18-1137.         -   Seed length.—Average of 1.46 mm.         -   Seed width.—Average of 0.83 mm.         -   Seed weight.—Average 0.3 mg.         -   Quantity seeds per berry.—Average of 30 seeds per berry. 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘Clockwork,’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 